Dana has introduced a new series of axles to replace its 170 Series, further reducing weight for fleets. The new lines features the Spicer S172 single drive axle for Class 7 and 8 vehicles and the D172 tandem axle for construction, heavy haul and vocational vehicles.
Steve Slesinski, director of global product planning, also touched on the launch of the company’s e-Axle systems as part of its new Spicer Electrified product lines. The e-Axle utilizes power electronics and motors, cooling units, a control strategy box, gearbox and axle/housing and puts them all in a single electrified axle.
The company launched the e-Axle, first introduced last fall, in Class 3 bus operations in China, but Slesinski said the technology is transferable to other markets and applications. It also provides a significant benefit for electric vehicles.
“By having an e-Axle in a vehicle, it provides for more room to put the batteries within the [frames],” he said.
The new 172 Series axles were the primary focus of the press conference, though. Both weigh about 60 pounds less than the 170 Series models they replace. The S172 is built for 4×2, 6×2, and 8×2 applications up to 25,000 lbs. GAWR and offers a range of gear ratios from 3.07 to 6.14. It features a low hypoid offset with High-Power Density AdvanTEK gearing to drive maximum efficiency.
Dana also said a passive lube management system requires less lube while utilizing a patented meter to optimize the amount of lube flow to the high-efficiency bearings.
The Spicer D172 heavy-duty tandem axle also has a gear ratio ranging from 3.07 to 6.14. It offers a 50,000-pound GAWR and 160,000-pound GCW.
In addition to the axles, Tim Farney, global vice president of sales for commercial vehicle driveline technologies, updated the media on the company’s Rhombus TireAnalytics system, which launched last year.
Rhombus is a “total lifecycle tire management tool” available to fleets. Version 2.0 has now been released with upgrades such as more efficient data collection through Bluetooth, tire serialization for “cradle to grave management,” benchmarking and subscription pricing customization.
Rhombus TireAnalytics 2.0 is a cloud-based platform that identifies and analyzes tire wear trends to predict maintenance issues that can be pre-emptively addressed to minimize downtime and establish optimal timeframes for scheduled replacement. It also facilitates standardized tire inspection and maintenance practices across terminals.
In the updated version, technicians are able to connect tire PSI and access tire PSI and tread depth devices wirelessly, thus reducing the possibility of errors and the need for excessive data input.
“The Rhombus TireAnalytics 2.0 platform is a great example of the successful digital transformation of Dana, with our continued strategic focus on the customer,” said Mark Wallace, president of Dana Commercial Driveline Technologies. “Our team listened to our customers and upgraded the platform in many ways to enhance the robustness of information the platform provides while also making it more user friendly.”
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